February 8, 2020 Standing Up for the Voiceless, was presented by the Northern California Time of Remembrance. A screening of “Protest at Dilley Detention Center” and “Fort Still Protests” (assembled by Emiko Omori) at the California Museum, 1020 O Street, Sacramento, was followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Emiko Omori and Satsuki Ina. PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor.

December 10, 2019 Annual Candlelight Vigil to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Right was held at 16th and J Streets. Organized by Sacramento Peace Action, PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor.

December 10, 2019 Sacramento City Council voted for a “Climate Change Emergency Declaration” stating that Sacramento “commits to a city-wide effort to end greenhouse gas emissions by 2030”. PSR/Sacramento was part of a coalition who met with Sacramento Councilmembers urging their support.

December 6, 2019 PSR/Sacramento holiday party was held at Sierra II in Sacramento. A potluck dinner and good conversation was enjoyed by all followed by holiday sing led by Helen Mendenhall at the piano.

November 13, 2019: Environmentalist of the Year Award Celebration, was hosted by the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS)

There was a reception from 5:30-6:30 PM, followed by the program and environmentalist of the year awards from 6:30-8:30 PM

PSR/Sacramento is a member organization of ECOS and a co-sponsor of the Environmentalist of the Year Award Celebration.

November 7, 2019: Children’s Advocates Roundtable, at the California Endowment in Sacramento, California This event, hosted by the Children’s Advocacy Institute, featured a presentation by Americans Against Gun Violence President Dr. Bill Durston on the topic, Firearm Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population: A Preventable Epidemic, followed by a panel discussion.

October 27, 2019: United Nations Day Celebrationin Curtis Hall of the Sierra 2 Center, Sacramento

The theme of this celebration, hosted by the Sacramento Chapter of the United Nations Association, was Our Planet, Our Future.

The program featured presentations by climate change experts concerning the steps that NGOs, and state, local national governments must take to address a disaster in the making.

November 3, 2019: Annual Dinner of the Sacramento Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility in conjunction with Americans Against Gun Violence, at the Hilton Arden West, 2200 Harvard Street, in Sacramento.

This year’s annual dinner featured a keynote address by Professor Philip Alpers of the University of Sydney School of Public Health on the topic of Preventing Gun Violence: An International Perspective

Professor Alpers is an internationally recognized expert on the issue of the relationship between gun laws, rates of gun ownership, rates of gun related deaths, and overall rates of homicide and suicide at the international level. He has served as a delegate from Australia to the United Nations in negotiations concerning arms trade treaties, and he regularly meets with leaders in other countries to discuss gun violence prevention. Professor Alpers was an invited participant in the summit held by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research in January of 2013, following the December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, and he contributed a chapter, The Big Melt: How One Democracy Changed after Scrapping a Third of its Firearms, describing Australia’s rapid response to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in the compendium, Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis. He has also published numerous other articles on the subject of gun violence prevention, including an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2016 entitled, Association between gun law reforms and intentional firearm deaths in Australia, 1979-2013.

Professor Alpers is the founder and CEO of GunPolicy.Org, an organization that maintains an online, interactive database that facilitates comparisons of gun laws, rates of gun ownership, rates of gun related deaths, and overall rates of homicide and suicide between the different countries of the world.

Americans Against Gun Violence vice president Kate Van Buren was invited speaker on the topic, Gun Violence in America: A Preventable Epidemic

There were workshops on Peace Poetry, meditation for peace of mind, and Peace on your Plate.

There was also music and dance performances, activities for children, and food vendors featuring ethnic food.

The event was hosted by the non-profit VI-SH Koranne Foundation and was co-sponsored by PSR/Sacramento and Americans Against Gun Violence.

September 7, 2019: Readings and discussions of Hold These Truths, a solo play inspired by the life of Gordon Hirabayashi, a Japanese American who resisted the forced relocation of Japanese Americans during WWII, at the California Museum in Sacramento

During WWII, University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi defied the US government’s orders of forcible removal and mass incarceration of all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast.

The one person play, Hold These Truths, written by Jeanne Sakata, delves into Hirabayashi’s struggles to reconcile his passionate belief in the US Constitution with his country’s betrayal of it.

This event was hosted by the Asian Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento, and PSR/Sacramento is a co-sponsor.

The Women Democrats of Sacramento County hosted a panel discussion on gun violence prevention, with panelists including representatives of Moms Demand Action, March for Our Lives, and PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston.

August 6, 2019: August Peace Event, commemorating the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, Main Hall of the Unitarian Universalist Society at 2425 Sierra Blvd, in Sacramento

This event is sponsored by PSR/Sacramento, Sacramento Peace Action, and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento.

Their was a showing of the documentary film, The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons. This one hour documentary takes the viewer through a brief history of nuclear weapons and the anti-nuclear movement, including the historic 122-1 vote in the UN General Assembly in July of 2017 to adopt the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

August 8, 2019: Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance featuring showing of the film, The Day After, followed by panel discussion of nuclear weapons, Davis Friends Meetinghouse in Davis

The Day After is a film dramatizing the hypothetical effects of a nuclear attack on Kansas.

The showing of the film was followed by a panel discussion on the subject of nuclear abolition, with PSR/Sacramento vice president Dr. Harry Wang on the panel.

The event is sponsored by the Davis Committee Against Nuclear Weapons.

May 5, 2019: Finals dinner of the 2019 PSR/Sacramento High School Scholarship Essay Contest.

The prompt for the 2019 contest is the following statement by President Barack Obama: “We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it.”

This event was organized by the Environmental Council of Sacramento with the goal of building community and finding ways to help residents of the Greater Sacramento Region reduce our ecological footprint.

PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor and had a booth with tabling materials.

February 15, 2019: Showing of the film, The Man Who Saved the World, at the Quaker Meeting House in Davis

This film detailed how one Soviet officer saved the world from an accidental nuclear war in 1983 when Soviet radar mistakenly interpreted the glint of sunlight off of clouds in Montana as the launch of U.S. nuclear missiles.

The film highlighted the ongoing danger of accidental war and the folly of the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia.

Those in attendance were encouraged to call members of Congress to demand that they openly advocate and do everything within their power to accomplish the complete abolition of nuclear weapons.

See the Nuclear Weapons page of the PSR/Sacramento website for more information and the link to enter contacts into our 1,000 Call Campaign.

The film was sponsored by the Davis Friends Meeting (Quakers) Friends Committee on National Legislation Advocacy Team, in which PSR/Sacramento members Tom and Sarah Pattison are actively involved. Tom introduced the film and led a discussion afterward.

January 26, 2019: Presentation by PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston on the topic, The Imminent Threat of Nuclear War – and What We Can Do To Prevent it, at the Friends Meeting House in Sacramento

Dr. Durston presented an updated version of the talk he presented in Maui in August, 2018 describing why Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and his plan to launch a new “star wars” program further increases the threat of nuclear war.

Dr. Durston’s presentation was followed by a discussion of how we can think globally and act locally, including through PSR/Sacramento’s ongoing 1,000 Call Campaign.

AJR 30 states that it is the will of the California Legislature that Congress urgently pass S.200 and H.R.669 at the federal level to remove the authority of the President of the United States to order a first nuclear strike without a declaration of war by Congress.

Between now and December 14, when Congress adjourns for the year, please act locally by contacting your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and urging them to support S.200 and H.R.669. companion bills in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to remove the authority of the President of the United States to order a first nuclear strike without a declaration of war by Congress.

At least 20 California U.S. Representatives are co-sponsors of H.R.669, but Sacramento area Representatives Ami Bera, Doris Matsui, and Tom McClintock are not among them.

Please also contact your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to openly support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which was passed by a vote of 122-1 in the UN General Assembly on July 7, 2017. and which is endorsed in California AJR 33.

Tuesday, November 13, 5:30-8:30 PM: Environmentalist of the Year Award, sponsored by the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS), in Curtis Hall of the Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th Street, in Sacramento

The will be the 43rd annual Sacramento Environmentalist of the Year ceremony.

The awards ceremony is a time to celebrate and recognize the past year’s regional champions and community sustainability successes. It is also a time to reflect on the work we still have in front of us in the year ahead.

The dinner is being held in the Grand Ballroom of the DoubleTree by Hilton, 2001 Point West Way.

Doors open at 6:00 PM, dinner begins at 7:00, and the program begins at 8:00.

The dinner will feature a keynote address by the Australian physician, Dr. Tilman Ruff.

Dr. Ruff co-founded the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). ICAN received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for the key role that it played in getting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons passed in the United Nations General Assembly by a vote of 122-1 in July of 2017.

Dr. Ruff is also co-president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, winner of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize.

PSR is the U.S. affiliate of IPPNW and a member organization of ICAN.

Dr. Ruff will be interviewed on Capital Public Radio’s Insight program with Beth Ryuak between 9:00 and 10:00 AM on Friday, November 9 (FM 90.9). The interview will be rebroadcast between 7:00 and 8:00 PM.

Dr. Ruff will be speaking at UC Davis Medical Center, room 2222 in the Health Education Building, at noon on Friday, November 9.

The annual dinner will also feature a personalized video presentation addressed to the winners of the 2018 PSR/Sacramento High School Scholarship Essay Contest by the Iranian women’s rights advocate, Mahnaz Afkhami.

The following quotation from Ms. Afkhami was used as the prompt for the 2018 essay contest: “The connection between women’s human rights, gender equality, socioeconomic development, and peace is increasingly apparent.”

There will also be a presentation by the first place winner of the 2018 PSR/Sacramento High School Scholarship Essay Contest.

PSR/Sacramento president Dr. Bill Durston will also address the issue of gun violence, with emphasis on the recent mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue and the example that Australia provides as a country that took swift and definitive action to prevent further mass shootings.

There will also be live music by the acclaimed Rio Americano High School Nuclear Free Jazz Ensemble and a dance floor for anyone who’d like to take a spin before the program begins.

Reservations to attend the November 10 annual dinner our now closed. If you’ve already made your reservations, we look forward to seeing you at the dinner.

Friday, October 19, 5:00-6:00 PM: General meeting of the United Nations Association of Sacramento at the Sylvan Oaks Library, 6700 Auburn Boulevard, in Citrus Heights

The meeting is open to all individuals who support the mission and work of the United Nations.

PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston will be present and will report on progress in the 1,000 Call Campaign and the November 10 PSR/Sacramento Annual Dinner.

Saturday, October 20, 6:00-9:30 PM: Wild and Scenic Film Festival, hosted by the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) and Habitat 2020, at the Sierra 2 Community Center, 2791 24th Street, in Sacramento

The annual Wild and Scenic film festival features newly released short films that address themes including water quality and conservation, sustainable development, energy, food, agriculture, wildlife protection, environmental justice, habitat preservation and outdoor recreation.

Tickets are $20 per person ($15 for students) and can be purchased in advance online. (Tickets may also be purchased at the door, but it’s recommended that you purchase them in advance as seating is limited.

PSR/Sacramento is an ECOS member and a co-sponsor of this event.

Sunday, October 21, 2-4 PM: United Nations Day Celebration in Curtis Hall of the Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th Street, in Sacramento

The celebration will feature a talk by PSR member Bill Myers, EdD, concerning the role of the UN in protecting the rights of children.

Bill worked for UNICEF for many years and is co-editor ofthe 2013 book, Child Protection in Development.

He will speak about the daunting challenges of protecting the rights of children in war-torn countries.

This event is hosted by the Sacramento Chapter of the United Nations Association and is free and open to the public.

Sunday, October 28, 2:00 PM: Report on the 68th World Conference Against Hydrogen and Atomic Bombs by John Steinbach at 909 12th Street, in Sacramento

Mr. Steinbach will report on the 68th World Conference Against Hydrogen and Atomic Bombs held in Hiroshima, Japan, from August 2-August 9, 2018.

This event, sponsored by Sacramento Peace Action, is free and open to the public.

Saturday, November 3, 6:00-9:00 PM: “Boots and Bling: A Celebration to Protect Vernal Pools;” Annual Benefit to support Sacramento Splash, at the Splash Center, 4426 Excelsior Road, in Mather, California

This fun event will feature live music, hot appetizers, wine and beer, silent auction, and a unique dress code: fancy on the top with your favorite pair of boots on the bottom!

Splash will honor County Supervisor Don Nottoli with the first annual Ripple Award recognizing the spreading impact of a dedicated individual in protecting local water and habitat for the next generation.

The event is a fundraiser for the AfriPeace Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose mission is to promote peace, non-violence, and justice in Africa and her diaspora with an emphasis on youth education and cross-cultural exchange.

PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston will be the featured speaker at the event, speaking on the topic, “Preventing Gun Violence: from Africa to the Americas.”

The ECOS Board Meeting is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served from 5:30-6:00 PM. (Bring something to share if you like.)

The September meeting will included a presentation by Dr. Graham Fogg and Dr. Robert Gailey of the UC Davis Water Program concerning the potential for ground water recharge in the Sacramento area.

Tuesday, September 11, 1:00-5:00 PM, Starr King Room of First Unitarian Universalist Society, 1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco: Children and Youth in Climate Change: An intergenerational perspective, presented by The International Institute for Child Rights and Development

On the Agenda:

Report on the impact of climate change on children and youth

Presentation by “children’s troubadour” and advocate Raffi Cavoukian

Discussion of climate change initiatives by youth activistsWorkshop on collaboration between elders and youth

Wednesday, August 22, 6:30-8:30 PM, Time Tested Books, 1114 21st Street, Sacramento: Presentation and book signing by Gayle McLaughlin, author of Winning Richmond: How a progressive alliance won city hall

Gayle McLaughlin will discuss the formation of the California Progressive Alliance and lessons that could apply to organizing on progressive in Sacramento.

The event is free and open to the public.

Sunday, August 19, 5:30-8:30 PM, Multicultural Potluck Exchange, sponsored by the United Nations Association of Sacramento and Davis, at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 2425 Sierra Boulevard, in Sacramento

The purpose of this event is to meet and welcome new immigrants to the Sacramento area.

The event will feature music, dance, and talks by representatives of Opening Doors and the International Rescue Committee.

The event is free and open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to bring an ethnic dish to share.

Tuesday, August 14, 9:00 AM: Assembly Public Safety Committee Hearing in room 126 of the State Capitol to consider AJR 30 and AJR 33

AJR 30 states that it is the will of the California Legislature that Congress urgently pass S.200 and H.R.669 at the federal level to remove the authority of the President of the United States to order a first nuclear strike without a declaration of war by Congress.

AJR 33 states that it is the will of the California Legislature that Congress support Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons passed by a vote of 122-1 in the UN General Assembly on July 76, 2017.

These two resolutions are the only items on the schedule for this date.

Come and express your vigorous support for both of these important resolutions

Monday, August 13, 10:30 AM – 2 PM: Lobby day at the State Capitol in support of AJR 30 and AJR 33

AJR 30 states that it is the will of the California Legislature that Congress urgently pass S.200 and H.R.669 at the federal level to remove the authority of the President of the United States to order a first nuclear strike without a declaration of war by Congress.

AJR 33 states that it is the will of the California Legislature that Congress support Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons passed by a vote of 122-1 in the UN General Assembly on July 76, 2017.

We will be lobbying members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee who will be considering these resolutions on Tuesday, August 14.

We’ll be meeting initially in Room 447 at the State Capitol at 10:30 AM to discuss lobbying strategy and schedule.

Sunday, August 12, 12 noon: Presentation at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Boulevard, by Jonathon Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute, on the topic, “Principles and Practices for Personal, National, and Global Peace and Security – the Path to Nuclear Disarmament.”

This event is free and open to the public

PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston will also be speaking briefly about our support of two resolutions before the California State Legislature:

AJR 30 states that it is the will of the California Legislature that Congress urgently pass S.200 and H.R.669 at the federal level to remove the authority of the President of the United States to order a first nuclear strike without a declaration of war by Congress.

AJR 33 states that it is the will of the California Legislature that Congress support Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons passed by a vote of 122-1 in the UN General Assembly on July 76, 2017.

Sacramento Earth Day, April 22, 2018 Southside Park, 11AM-4PM

Earth Day is organized by the Environmental Council of Sacramento and is co-spoonsored by PSR/Sacramento.

Drop by the PSR/Sacramento – Americans Gun Violence booth and say hello. We’re in location V3, just inside the 8th Street entrance to the park, near the electric vehicle display.

The prompt for this year’s contest is the statement by the Iranian women’s rights advocate, Mahnaz Afkhami: “The connection between women’s human rights, gender equality, socioeconomic development, and peace is increasingly apparent.”

At the dinner on May 6, the 10 student finalists in this year’s contest will present their essays orally, and a distinguished panel of judges from the community will choose the first, second, and third place winners. A total of $15,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

The dinner is being held at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 2001 Point West Way, in Sacramento. Doors open for social hour at 5:00 PM, dinner begins at 6:00, and the presentations of the student finalists begin at 7:00. The event wraps up by 9:00 PM.

Reservations for the dinner are now closed. If you’ve already made your reservations, we look forward to seeing you at the dinner.

April 23, 2017 Annual “Earth Day” Celebration, organized by the Environmental Council of Sacramento, was held at Southside Park in Sacramento. PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor of the event and tabled.

April 30, 2017 $15,000 in scholarships was awarded at the Annual PSR/Sacramento Scholarship finals dinner. The prompt for this year’s essay contest is a quotation by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt:“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” You can read the essays of the ten finalists and view the scholarship dinner (courtesy of Media Edge).

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour in Sacramento features a program of short films that ECOS/Habitat 2020 specially designs to focus on the ecosystems and environmental justice struggles in our area, and to inspire action by citizens to protect the planet.

The event is a benefit for The California Heartland Project and includes a silent auction and raffle.

Tickets are $15 ($10 for students)

For advance tickets and for more information, click on this link or call ECOS at 916-444-0022.

Need some cheering up after the November 8 election? Come enjoy the good company of other members of the greater Sacramento progressive community at the annual PSR/Sacramento Holiday Social, hosted this year by PSR/Sacramento Vice President, Dr. Harry Wang, and his wife Janice Nakashima at their home at 10 Dumfries Court in Sacramento.

The social will be a pot luck, open house affair, and you can come late or leave early if you other overlapping holiday events scheduled. It would be helpful for planning purposes, though, if you’d RSVP, including letting us know whether or not you’ll be bringing a dish to share, by sending an email to Harry or by calling us at (916) 955-6333.

The holiday social will include singing around the piano during the last hour. If you’re musically inclined, bring the music and lyrics to your favorite holiday tune or song of peace or protest and a musical instrument if you play one.

Pastries and coffee will be served from 9:30-10:00 AM, followed by a presentation entitled “Rattlesnakes and Radiowaves ” by Mike Cardwell, wildlife biologist and adjunct professor at Cal State Sacramento, and George Nyberg, SARA Board of Directors member.

The meeting also will include a review of issues SARA will be dealing with in the coming year and the election of SARA’s 2017 Board of Directors.

Lunch will be served at 11:30.

The event is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated.

This event commemorates the 100 year anniversary of the Election of Jeannette Rankin, the First Woman to US Congress.

The performer, Jeanmarie Bishop, grew up in Arizona, US and Toronto, Canada, falling in love with theatre at a young age. She has performed many, various roles in the theatre and became the Founding Artistic Director of the Nevada Shakespeare Company. She wrote and performed the play, A Single Woman, about the life of Jeannette Rankin, and will perform selections of the play.

The event will also include suffragette songs by the Raging Grannies choral group and Q & A with Jeanmarie Bishop

Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

The event is sponsored by the Sacramento Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Nawal Slemiqh is founder and director of Women in Hebron (WiH). She will speak about her life in Palestine and the work of the WiH Embroidery Cooperative.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments. Embroidery and Palestinian olive oil will be sold.

Sunday, October 23: Joint Annual Dinner of the Sacramento Chapters of PSR and the United Nations Association

The Annual Dinner is being held again this year in the California Ballroom of the DoubleTree by Hilton, 2001 Point West Way, in Sacramento.

Doors open for sign-in and social hour at 5:00 PM; dinner begins at 6, and the program begins at 7.

Reservations for the annual dinner are now closed. If you’ve already made your reservations, we look forward to seeing you there.

This year’s annual dinner will feature a keynote address by Dr. Ira Helfand, co-president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW).

Dr. Helfand will be speaking on the topic, “The Growing Danger of Nuclear War – and what we can do to prevent it.”

Dr. Helfand has spoken at the United Nations, at meetings of the International Congress to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), and at many other national and international venues regarding the ongoing threat of nuclear weapons and the urgent need to abolish these weapons altogether, and he’s been actively involved in working toward this goal through PSR, ICAN, and the UN.

IPPNW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985 for its work in raising awareness of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear war. PSR is the U.S. affiliate of IPPNW.

IPPNW launched the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in 2007 and now has more than 420 partner non-governmental organizations in 95 countries.

At a conference in Vienna in December, 2014, ICAN adopted a pledge to “stigmatise, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.”

In December of 2015, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of adopting this pledge.

The United States was one of just 29 countries to vote against it.

IPPNW sent representatives to the UN Open Ended Working Group meeting in Geneva in May of 2016 to develop “legal measures, legal provisions, and norms” for achieving a nuclear-weapon-free world.

OEWG, as it is called, was formed in 2015 and is supported by 138 nations, but opposed by 12, including the USA , which didn’t send a representative to the meeting in Geneva.

The dinner will also feature live musical entertainment by the Rio Americano High School Nuclear Free Jazz Quartet. (Bring your dancing shoes.)

Sunday, October 23, 3-5 PM: Nick Buxton, co-editor of The Secure and Dispossessed, speaks on How the Military & Corporations Seek to Benefit from the Climate Crisis, 909 12th Street, in Sacramento

Mr. Buxton will share his research and analysis on the preparations that the Pentagon and transnational corporations are making to militarize security responses to the unfolding climate crisis.

This event, hosted by Sacramento Peace Action, is free and open to the public.

This powerful book gives voice to three communities living at the edges of capitalism: Cossacks on the Don River in Russia; Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico; and prisoners in long-term isolation since the 1970s.

Inspired by their experiences visiting Cossacks, living with the Zapatistas, and developing connections and relationships with prisoners and ex-prisoners, Andrej Grubacic and Denis O’Hearn present a uniquely sweeping, historical, and systematic study of exilic communities engaged in mutual aid.

Issa Amro has been honored by the Institute for Middle East Understanding, the European Union, and the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights for his work in organizing resistance to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

He will be leading a discussion regarding organizing youth in the West Bank.

The event, which is sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace, is free and open to the public.

Thursday, October 20, 6:00 PM: Showing of the documentary film, Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, and the NRA, at the Fireside Room, Central United Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Avenue, in Stockton

This film tells the stories of how guns, and the billions made off of them, affect the lives of everyday Americans. It features personal stories from people across the country who have been affected by gun violence, including survivors and victims’ families. The film exposes how the powerful gun companies and the NRA are resisting responsible legislation for the sake of profit – and thereby putting people in danger.

The film looks into gun tragedies that include unintentional shootings, domestic violence, suicides, mass shootings and trafficking – and what we can do to put an end to this profit-driven crisis.

Admission is free. A panel discussion, with panelists including PSR President Dr. Bill Durston, will follow the showing of the film.

Issa Amro has been honored by the Institute for Middle East Understanding, the European Union, and the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights for his work in organizing resistance to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

He will be leading a discussion regarding organizing youth in the West Bank.

The event, which is sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace, is free and open to the public.

Monday, October 17, 1:30-4:30 PM: Keynote Address by Justice Jackie Kaman, Judge of the High Court of Kenya, “Promoting Dialogue on International Human Rights and African National Sovereignty, followed by panel discussion, Library 11, CSUS, 6000 J Street, Sacramento

This keynote address and subsequent panel discussion arre part of the CSUS Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution Distinguished Speaker Series.

From Now to the PSR/Sacramento Annual Dinner on Sunday, October 23: Help Write “The Story of Sacramento and the 1,000 Phone Calls”

You’ve probably heard the story of Sadako and the 1,000 Cranes, about the young Japanese woman who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast in 1945 but who later contracted leukemia, probably due to the radiation to which she was exposed. According to Japanese legend, if you fold 1,000 paper cranes, your wish will be granted. Sadako succeeded in folding over 1,000 cranes as she battled leukemia, but her wish to live was not granted, and she died 10 months after her leukemia was first diagnosed.

Thursday, October 13, 7:00 PM: Showing of the documentary film, Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, and the NRA, at the Wendell Phillips Center, Room 140, on the University of the Pacific campus, in Stockton

This film tells the stories of how guns, and the billions made off of them, affect the lives of everyday Americans. It features personal stories from people across the country who have been affected by gun violence, including survivors and victims’ families. The film exposes how the powerful gun companies and the NRA are resisting responsible legislation for the sake of profit – and thereby putting people in danger.

The film looks into gun tragedies that include unintentional shootings, domestic violence, suicides, mass shootings and trafficking – and what we can do to put an end to this profit-driven crisis.

Admission is free. A panel discussion will follow the showing of the film.

Thursday, September 22, 12 noon-1:30 PM: United Nations International Day of Peace Celebration at the World Peace Rose Garden on the Capitol Grounds at 15th and L Streets in Sacramento

The celebration will begin with dedication of the Cesar and Helen Chavez Peace Bench followed by a blessing of the Four Corners by Aztec dancers.

The event will also include presentations by public officials and community leaders, as well as a Mariachi band.

Maayan Ravid is an Israeli-American who has spent the last decade working on social justice issues in Israel, particularly focused on migration and minority rights.

Ms. Ravid will discuss issues surrounding African asylum seekers in Israel, including their legal status, rights in the state, and social action.

Ms. Ravid has been involved with grassroots organizing in Israel to improve the status of migrant communities from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Eritrea.

The event is co-sponsored by the Adult Education Committee and the Israel Committee of Congregation B’nai Israel, and by The Israel Civil Voice Alliance.

Sunday August 7, 2:00-4:30 PM: August Peace Event, at the Social Hall of St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1701 L St. in Sacramento

This annual event, which is co-sponsored by PSR/Sacramento, commemorates the 1945 Atomic Bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The featured speaker this year is the Honorable Tony de Brum, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Tony de Brum was born in 1945 and grew up in a time when the United States conducted 67 atomic and thermonuclear weapons tests in the Marshall Islands.

As a nine-year-old, he personally witnessed the ‘Bravo shot’ at Bikini Atoll, the largest-ever US nuclear test that produced an explosion 1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.

Having witnessed the deleterious effects of US nuclear tests in his country as a young boy, Tony de Brum, as Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands, took the unprecedented step of filing lawsuits against all nine nuclear weapons states in the International Court of Justice in 2014, seeking to hold them to account for their failure to abide by the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and customary international law.

Doors open at 2:00 for anyone who is willing to be photographed “Taking a Stand Against Nuclear Weapons and Gun Violence. Social hour begins at 2:30 PM, and the program begins at 3:00.

Sacramento AIRS host Charlene Jones interviews Jordan Hunter, the first place winner in this year’s PSR/Sacramento high scholarship essay contest winner, regarding his outstanding essay about the words of the Dalai Lama, “Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”

Ms. Jones also interviews PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston regarding President Obama’s recent trip to Hiroshima and PSR’s efforts to stop further spending on our nuclear arsenal and instead work toward the complete abolition of nuclear weapons.

This film showing, sponsored by Sac Action for Latin America, features a film about an inspiring young indigenous lawyer, Caleb Behn, who confronts the divisions in his community, and takes on the Big Oil and Gas Companies, to protect his peoples’ land, water and culture.

Because People Matter host JoAnn Fuller interviews Charlotte Selton, one of this year’s PSR/Sacramento high scholarship essay contest winner, regarding her outstanding essay about the words of the Dalai Lama, “Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”

Ms. Fuller also interviews PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston regarding President Obama’s recent trip to Hiroshima and PSR’s efforts to stop further spending on our nuclear arsenal and instead work toward the complete abolition of nuclear weapons.

The outstanding a cappella choral group, RSVP, that performed a “sampler” of songs at the October 25th PSR/Sacramento annual dinner, will be giving a concert to benefit the Sacramento non-profit organization, Transforming Lives, Cultivating Success (TLCS).

TLCS has been providing mental health and supportive housing service for people with mental health challenges for 35 years in Sacramento County.

RSVP’s mission is bringing people together through the arts and giving back to the community.

The concert will also feature special guest artists, including The Responders with vocalist David Saul Lee.

The concert is free and open to the public, but contributions to TLCS would be appreciated.

The outstanding a cappella choral group, RSVP, that performed a “sampler” of songs at the October 25th PSR/Sacramento annual dinner, will be giving a concert to benefit the Sacramento non-profit organization, Transforming Lives, Cultivating Success (TLCS).

TLCS has been providing mental health and supportive housing service for people with mental health challenges for 35 years in Sacramento County.

The concert is free and open to the public, but contributions to TLCS would be appreciated.

Friday, May 20, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1701 L Street, in Sacramento

Saturday, May 21st, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1701 L Street, in Sacramento

Wednesday, May 11, 4:15 PM: The Immigration Crisis – Power vs. the Powerless, a multi-media presentation by Francisco Dominguez at Del Norte Hall, Room 1004, Sacramento State University

Mr. Dominguez is noted for his photo-documentation of the Farmworker Movement, the Chicano Student Movement, as well as the career of late CSUS Government Professor and Mayor, Joe Serna.

His presentation on May 11 will include photos illustrating the perils that immigrants from Mexico and South and Central America face in crossing the border between the United States and Mexico.

A reception with refreshments will follow outside the Anthropology Museum in Mendocino Hall, Room 1000 to which you the public is cordially invited.

The public is also invited to view the current Anthropology Museum exhibit, “The Power of Identity: Domestic Arts of Highland Michoacán,” featuring photographs and traditional art forms of the Purepecha, a well-known Native people in West Central Mexico.

Sunday, May 1, 6-9 PM: PSR/Sacramento High School Scholarship Essay Contest Finals Dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 2001 Point West Way, in Sacramento

Make your reservations to attend the annual PSR/Sacramento High School Scholarship Essay Contest Finals dinner, which is always one of the most inspiring and enjoyable PSR events of the year.

The cost of the dinner is $40 per person ($20 for students).

Salmon, chicken, and vegetarian entrees are available.

The deadline to make reservations is Tuesday, April 26th.

The prompt for this year’s contest is a quotation from the Dalai Lama, who said, “Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”

The 10 student finalists will present their essays orally to a panel of distinguished judges from the community and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be chosen.

First place will win a $3,000 scholarship, 2nd place a $2,500 scholarship, and 3rd place a $2,000 scholarship.

Thursday, April 21-Saturday, April 23, 2016 – 25th Annual Africa and Diaspora Conference on “Peace and Conflict Resolution in Africa/Diaspora, 25 Years Later” at CSUS

This conference, organized by CSUS Professor Ernest Uwazie, Director of the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, will focus on the successes on the African continent during the beginning of the 21st Century, including an increasing number of stable democracies, a declining numbers of conflicts, and improving overall economic conditions, as well as the ongoing challenges of violent extremism, religious and ethnic intolerance, and the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Click on this link for more information.

Did you know that addressing climate change can improve our health? Climate change directly threatens our health in a variety of ways, from heat waves, to loss of electricity from extreme weather events. These threats affect those already the most vulnerable in our society, the very young, old, and those economically disadvantaged. From reduction in air pollution from burning fossil fuels to eating less meat, we can improve our health and well-being over and above reducing the threat of climate changes.

At this event, led my Martha Arguello, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, participants will discuss the health impact of urban oil drilling, including the practice of “fracking,” on local communities.

The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP would be appreciated. Light refreshments will be served.

Thursday, April 14, 12 Noon: Presentation by John Washburn on “Prosecuting War Criminals – The Role of the International Criminal Court,” at UC Davis Law School, Room 1001

Mr. Washburn had a long career with the US diplomatic service and later with the United Nations.

He was present at the founding of the International Criminal Court in Rome in 1998 and has written and spoken extensively about the importance of the ICC and the need for the United States to become a member.

Mr. Washburn will discuss the current status of the ICC, including recent cases brought to the ICC concerning bad actors of the Central African Republic, the Ivory Coast, and Mali.

Tuesday, April 12, 5:00-6:00 PM: Presentation by John Washburn on “The US and the International Criminal Court – The World of Diplomacy and Negotiations, ” McGeorge International Law Society, Classroom A

John Washburn has had an extensive career in diplomacy as a former Director with the United Nations Office of the Secretary General and Office of Political Affairs. Mr. Washburn will discuss his career in diplomacy as it relates to the creation of an International Criminal Court and what the future of the Court means for the rest of the world.

Last fall, PSR/Sacramento participtated in a successful effort to convince the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors not to allow developers to destroy the invaluable vernal pools adjacent to Mather Field. This spring, these pools will be teeming with pond life surrounded by gorgeous wildflowers. Come and see the beautiful and precious ecosystem that you helped save.

Click on this link for more information and to make reservations to join the “Vernal Pool Flower Walk .”

If you can’t make it on April 10, additional “Flower Walks” are being held on Sunday, April 17 and April 24, beginning at 1 PM.

Tuesday, April 5, 1:30-2:45 PM – Talk by Michael Clare on “The Race for What’s Left: The Global Scramble for the World’s Last Resources,” Hinde Auditorium, Sacramento State University

Michael Klare is a writer, teacher and public speaker who studies issues of war and peace, resource competition and international affairs. As the Five College Professor of Peace and World Security Studies based at Hampshire College, he teaches courses on resource politics, contemporary conflict and world affairs. Klare has written 14 books and hundreds of essays on these and related topics. A strong believer in the need for public debate and discussion, he also appears regularly in the media and in public to express his views on critical issues.

The talk is free and open to the public.The following three events are part of the culmination of Sacramento State’s One World Initiative, a program that galvanizes the CSUS campus behind one common theme each year. This year the focus is Global Perspectives on Power.

Last fall, PSR/Sacramento participtated in a successful effort to convince the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors not to allow developers to destroy the invaluable vernal pools adjacent to Mather Field. This spring, these pools will be teeming with pond life. Come and see the beautiful and precious ecosystem that you helped save.

Click on this link for more information and to make reservations to join the “Critter Walk.”

If you can’t make it on March 6, another “Critter Walk” is being held on Sunday, March 13, beginning at 1 PM.

This symposium celebrates and springboards from the scholarship and work of McGeorge Distinguished Professor Linda Carter, including her forthcoming book “The International Criminal Court in an Effective Global Justice System” (with Mark S. Ellis, and Charles Chernor Jalloh) (Edward Elgar, forthcoming 2016). The symposium will explore the challenges posed by the most serious crimes occurring throughout the world. Distinguished panelists will share their expertise and insights on national, regional, and international approaches to atrocity crimes, including criminal trials, truth commissions and indigenous mediation practices.

Thursday, March 3, 7-9 PM: International Woman’s Day Celebration featuring a talk by Rev. Kristin Stoneking on Marginalization, Reconciliation, and the Work of the United Nations, at International House, 10 College Park, in Davis

Rev. Stoneking will discuss her experiences a a women, a person of religious faith, and a member of the LGBT community in working toward peacemaking and reconciliation via the organization, Fellowship of Reconciliation.

The event is free and open to the public. Rev. Stoneking’s presentation will be followed by an informal reception and refreshments.

Sunday, February 21, 7:30 PM: An evening with Dr Jeff Halper Co-Founder of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento 2425 Sierra Blvd, in Sacramento

Saturday, February 13, 1-4 PM: Screening of the film, Untold Story: Internment of Japanese Americans in Hawaii, with subsequent discussion, at the California Museum, 1020 O St, in Sacramento

This event, sponsored by Northern California Time of Remembrance, features a discussion of the film and its implicatins for current times led by Carole Hayashino of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.

The general admission fee is $25; college students $15; under 18 free.

The event includes at talk, Collection Evolution: The untold story of the vindication of Charles Darwin, presented by Dr Matthew James of Sonoma State University, music, refreshments, displays, and birthday cake!

This film provides a revealing look at pink ribbon campaigns and how corporations wrap their products in pink to to sell products that have nothing to do with preventing breast cancer and that, in fact, may be harmful to human health and to the health of our environment.

Join fellow PSR supporters and other area peace activists for this annual vigil on the anniversary of International Human Rights Day.

Bring you “Honk for Peace” signs and other peace and justice oriented signs, banners, etc., as well as flashlights or wind-proof candles.

Everyone’s invited after the vigil to gather at Luna’s Cafe, 1414 16th Street, to warm up, get something to eat and drink, and enjoy the good company of fellow peace activists.

Sunday, December 6, 5-9 PM – Annual PSR/Sacramento Holiday Social at the Home of Diane and Bill Durston

All PSR/Sacramento supporters are invited to join us for an open house style evening of food and beverages, good company and good cheer, and, of course, the traditional sing along featuring PSR/Sacramento Vice President Dr. Harry Wang at the piano.

You can bring a beverage or a dish to share if you like, but it’s not necessary to do so. If you have musical talent, you’re also invited to bring an instrument to play to accompany the sing along.

For planning the food and drinks, it would be helpful send us an RSVP if you plan to attend and to let us know what kind of food or beverage you’ll be bringing if you do choose to bring something to share.

Monday, November 30, 5-7 PM: Thirsting for Justice – an examination of the devastating effect of settler colonialism and control of water resources, Hart 3201, UC Davis

This event examines the parallels between the devastating effects of settler-colonialism on California Indian Land and in the Palestine occupied territories. They will also discuss forms of farmer resistance and ways that indigenous communities challenge the destruction of the environment.

Tuesday, December 1 – Deadline for Call for Papers for the 25th Annual Africa and Diaspora Conference on “Peace and Conflict Resolution in Africa/Diaspora, 25 Years Later”

See below for details concerning the conference. Click on this link for more information regarding submission of papers.

November 28 through December 4 – This Week on Media Edge will broadcast a video recording of the keynote address by Rebecca Peters at the October 25 PSR/Sacramento annual dinner

Rebeccaa Peters spoke on the topic, “Preventing Gun Violence – An International Perspective at the PSR/Sacramento annual dinner on October 25.

Ms. Peters is the founding director of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). Following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Australia, Ms. Peters led a grass roots gun control campaign that led to prompt action by the Australian government to ban all assault weapons in their country. For her work on gun violence prevention, she received the Australian Human Rights Medal, the Australian equivalent of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.

During her keynote address, Ms. Peters described how she and her Australian colleagues were able to get the nationwide ban on assault weapons passed. She noted that following the ban, over a million firearms were removed from circulation, overall rates of firearm related deaths and injuries, already much lower than in the United States, declined even further, and there hasn’t been a single additional mass shooting. Ms. Peters challenged Americans to take similar action to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our country.

During the week of November 28 through December 4, Media Edge will also be airing Border Inc., a documentary describing the war profiteering by private companies getting lucrative government contracts to militarize the border between the U.S. and Mexico – the same private companies that profited from the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Saturday, November 21, beginning at 10:30 AM – Mass mobilization in Oakland in advance of the UN Conference in Paris on Global Climate Change

Gather at 10:30 AM at Lake Merritt Ampitheater to march to Frank Ogawa/Oscar Grant Plaza where the rally begins at 1 PM.

The purpose of the rally is to demand that the U.S. delegation to the Paris talks act in good faith to achieve an international agreement to rapidly and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Click on this link for more information.

The outstanding a cappella choral group, RSVP, performed a “sampler” of songs at the October 25th PSR/Sacramento annual dinner. RSVP will be performing full concerts on Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st to benefit 916 ink, a local non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring students in the Sacramento region in developing reading and writing skills, thereby empowering them to a greater level of engagement in society and a higher quality of life. Admission to the concerts is free, but contributions to 916 ink would be appreciated.

This town hall, hosted by 350 Sacramento and co-sponsored by PSR/Sacramento, will feature exciting speakers, networking, workgroups, and the opportunity to help find effective local solutions to the climate crisis. Speakers will include:

The Sacramento Chapter of the United Nations Association is teaming up other concerned organizations, including PSR/Sacramento, to present our community with up to date scientific observations and recommended action needed to minimize the results of global climate change. The speaker at this event, Dana Nuccitelli, is a local environmental scientist who has written extensively concerning the scientific evidence in support of the existence of global climate change and the immediate steps that we must take to avoid disastrous consequences.

Directed by Avi Lewis, and inspired by Naomi Klein’s international non-fiction bestseller, This Changes Everything, the film presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines of climate change, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond. Interwoven with these stories of struggle is Klein’s narration, connecting the carbon in the air with the economic system that put it there. Throughout the film, Klein builds to her most controversial and exciting idea: that we can seize the existential crisis of climate change to transform our failed economic system into something radically better.

Admission is $10. The Friday evening film showing is a prelude to the Town Hall on Climate Change at Sacramento City College the next day (see below).

Dr. Gilbert has treated victims of the Israeli military actions in Gaza on multiple occasions, including during the July, 2014 conflict when thousands of Gazans were killed and tens of thousands were wounded. Dr. Gilbert has written a book, “A Night in Gaza,” concerning his work in Gaza during this conflict. He will read excerpts from his book, talk about his first-hand observations and experiences in Gaza, and answer questions at this event, which is co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace and PSR/Sacramento, among other organizations.

Ms. Nichols will share her perspective on the importance of California’s climate leadership and key next steps for 2016, the international climate conference in Paris and opportunities for health leaders and organizations to support state, national and global clean air and climate protection efforts.

The program will include light refreshments from 5:30-6:00 PM followed by the Awards Program from 6:00-7:30 PM. Programs supported by Closing the Gap include the Sacramento Police Department Foundation Criminal Justice Academy and the Improve Your Tomorrow Luther Burbank High School Partnership.

Seating is limited to the first 100 people to make reservations. Reservations can be made by email at RSVP@closingthegapusa.org or by phone at (916) 425-7098.

Sunday, October 25, 5-9 PM: Joint Annual Dinner of the Sacramento Chapters of Physicians for Social Responsibility and the United Nations Association at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 2001 Point West Way, in Sacramento

More than 350 people attended the dinner featuring keynote speaker Rebecca Peters who addressed the topic, “Preventing Gun Violence – an International Perspective.” Ms. Peters has worked for more than 20 years on arms control, women’s rights, public health, and social justice. She is a lawyer and a journalist, and she was the founding director of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). She spoke last year on behalf of IANSA at the United Nations 5th Biennial Meeting of States on progress toward eradicating the illicit international small arms trade. She was invited to be a member of a panel of international experts on gun violence prevention at a summit held at Johns Hopkins after the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, and she is the author of a chapter in the book, Reducing Gun Violence in America, which came out of that summit. In the 1990’s, she led a grass roots gun control campaign in Australia. Following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Australia, thanks to the groundwork of Rebecca and her colleagues, it took the Australian government just 13 days to ban all assault weapons in the entire country.For her work on gun violence prevention, she received the Australian Human Rights Medal, the Australian equivalent of the U.S. Presidental Medal of Freedom. During her keynote address,Ms. Peters described how she and her Australian colleagues were able to get the nationwide ban on assaulct weapons passed so quickly. She noted that following the ban, over a million firearms were removed from circulation, overall rates of firearm related deaths and injuries, already much lower than in the United States, declined even further, and there hasn’t been even a single additional mass shooting. Ms. Peters challenged Americans to take similar action to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our own country.

The annual dinner also featured music by the Millington Strings Quintet during the social hour; a sampler of choral music by the acclaimed a cappella group RSVP at the start of the program; and a presentation by the 2015 first place scholarship essay contest winner, Goody Walowit, concerning his thoughts on the quotation, “The world is over-armed, and peace is under-funded,” by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

This 43rd annual event is a time to savor the company of like-minded progressives who are united in the struggle for a sustainable planet, a green economy, and environmental and social justice. It is also a time to reflect on the good work that ECOS, of which PSR/Sacramento is a member organization, has done and to reflect on the challenges ahead of us. The main focus of the event, as its name implies, is to recognize leaders among us on environmental issues. Tickets to the event are $20 and can be purchased in advance via the ECOS website.

Original Posting – Thursday, October 8, 2015, 12 Noon-1:30 PM: “The Power of Norms: The Impact of the Nobel Peace Prize on Global Politics,” a talk by David Andersen-Rodgers, PhD, in the Hinde Auditorium of the CSUS University Union

Who do you think will the recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be? Come hear a talk on the political history of the prize and its impact on how we think about globabl politics. On the eve of the Nobel Peace Prize Announcement, Dr. Andersen-Rodgers, who is the coordinator of Sacramento State’s Peace and Conflict Resolution minor and a past judge in the PSR/Sacramento High School Scholarship Essay Contest, will make his prediction regarding the new Nobel laureate. Dr. Andersen-Rodgers will include in his talk the significance of the fact that International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), of which PSR is the U.S. affiliate, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985. The talk is free and open to the public.

Original Posting – Thursday, October 8, 2015, 3:00 PM: Talk by Latin American Scholar, Dr. Miguel Tiner, on “Venezuela: What everyone needs to know,” at Sacramento City College Awareness Center, 3835 Freeport Blvd, in Sacramento

Is Venezuela really “an extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” as President Obama has stated, or just the latest boogeyman since the thawing of relations with Cuba. Dr. Tiner will discuss the realities of U.S. relations with Venezuela in this talk sponsored by Sacramento Action for Latin America.

Note: Dr. Tiner will also be speaking about Venezuela later the same evening at 7 PM at the Sierra II Garden Room, 2791 24th Street, in Sacramento, and the next day, October 9, from 12 noon-1:30 PM in the Andrews Conference Room, room 2203, in the UC Davis Social Sciences and Humanities Building on the UC Davis Campus.

Original Posting – Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 7:00 PM: Book Signing and Talk by Phyllis Bennis, Author or “Understanding ISIS and the New Global War on Terror – A Primer,” at Time-Tested Books, 1114 21st Street, in Sacramento

Phyllis Bennis is a Fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies and of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. She writes and speaks widely on US wars and foreign policy and is the author of numerous books including Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict and Before & After: US Foreign Policy and the War on Terror . She plays a leading role in US and global movements against wars and occupation. The lecture is free, and all are welcome. Click on this link for more information.

Original posting – Wednesday, September 16, 2015, 6:00-10:00 PM: Meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to decide the fate of the Mather Wetlands, Board Chambers, 700 H Street, Suite 1450, Sacramento

When the US Air Force closed down the Mather Field military operations, it turned over the surrounding land, including sensitive wetlands, to the County of Sacramento. Now, developers are planning to pave over 36 acres of vernal pools. Come to the Board of Supervisors meeting to voice your opposition to the destruction of these sensitive wetlands. Click on this link for more information and to send a message to your county supervisor. Join PSR/Sacramento president Dr. Bill Durston in attending the meeting and voicing your opposition in person to the destruction of the Mather Wetlands. Click here to let organizers know that you plan to attend the Board meeting and to receive updates concerning the Mather Wetlands. If you wish to speak, plan to arrive at the meeting about 15 minutes early to fill out a speakers form.

Event Outcome: Opponents to destruction of the Mather Wetlands packed the Board of Supervisors chambers and detailed reasons why the Environmental Impact Report and county master plan for the proposed development were grossly inadequate. Speakers included PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston. The Board of Supervisors (excluding Supervisor Peters, who was not present) voted unanimously to scrap the current plan to develop the Mather Wetlands. (Read the story in the Sacramento Bee.)

Original Posting – Sunday, August 2, 2015, through the end of congressional debate concerning the Iran Nuclear Deal: Join in Making 1,000 Phone Calls to Help Rid the World of Nuclear Weapons

At the August Peace Event in Sacramento on August 2, which was co-sponsored by PSR/Sacramento, the story of Sadako and the 1,000 Cranes was retold. Sadako was a Japanese child who developed leukemia after being exposed to the radiation from the Hiroshima atomic bomb attack. According to Japanese legend, one’s wish will be granted if he or she folds 1,000 cranes. Sadako’s wish to live was not granted, but her story lives on, and Origami cranes have become an international symbol of the hope for a world free of nuclear weapons. At the August Peace Event, PSR/Sacramento President Dr. Bill Durston issued a challenge to Sacramento area peace activists to collectively make 1,000 phone calls to the President and other elected leaders to demand the abolition of nuclear weapons. Please help write the story of Sacramento and the 1,000 Calls by calling the President, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and your U.S. Representative to tell them that you:

Support the Iran Nuclear Deal

Demand no more spending on “modernizing” U.S. nuclear weapons

Demand that we honor the commitment that President Obama made in his speech in Prague in 2009 and that the U.S. made in signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970 to rid the world completely of nuclear weapons, including getting rid of our own nuclear arsenal

Note: The gap in Past Events between October 2014 and August, 2015 does not reflect inactivity on the part of PSR/Sacramento during this period of time but rather a hiatus in posting past events on the website.

2014 and Earlier

October 24, 2014 – PSR/Sacramento Annual Dinner, held in conjunction with the United Nations Association of Sacramento.We’d like to the everyone who helped make the PSR/Sacramento Annual Dinner on October 24 an enormous success! The Dante Club was filled to capacity, with attendees including longtime PSR and UNA members, new supporters, and students, including High School students from Closing the Gap, college students from American River College and Sacramento State, and medical students from UC Davis, including volunteers from the student run Clinica Tepati. We appreciate the generosity of the many PSR supporters who made contributions beyond the cost of the dinner as well as supporters who were unable attend but who sent contributions to PSR in response to the dinner invitations.

October 24 was the anniversary of the ratification of the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945. In honor of this event, we combined our PSR/Sacramento annual dinner this year with the annual dinner of the United Nations Association of Sacramento. We appreciate the cooperation and collegiality of the UNA in putting on the joint event. Our keynote speaker was Jerome Sauvage, the Deputy Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Washington. DC . Mr. Sauvage gave an outstanding presentation concerning the focus areas of the UNDP, including reducing poverty, fostering social justice, protecting the environment, and promoting democracy, which are very much in line with PSR’s principles of “SMART Security,” and he provided candid and motivating responses to members questions during the Q & A session after his presentation.

April 19, 2014 – PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor and tabled at Sacramento Earth Day 2014 presented by Environmental Council of Sacramento. Visitors learned how to be better stewards of the planet, commit to living sustainably, and how to act to reduce our impact on the environment.

December 14, 2013 – PSR/Sacramento holiday potluck social took place at the home of Diane and Bill Durston.

December 10, 2013 – Annual Candlelight Vigil for Peace and Justice was held on the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sponsored by Sacramento Area Peace Action, PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor.

October 6, 2013 – PSR/Sacramento tenth annual dinner. Keynote speaker Juliet Leftwich, Legal Director of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and special guests Nick and Amanda Wilcox of the Brady Campaign outlined steps we can to take to support sensible firearm regulations, including contacting Governor Brown urgently to encourage him to sign the package of 16 firearm-related bills on his desk before the pocket veto October 13 deadline.

August 4, 2013 – Fiscal sponsorship of Sacramento’s 26th Annual August Peace Event held to commemorate the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Keynote speaker was Marylia Kelley, co-founder and Executive Director of Tri-ValleyCAREs.

May 19, 2013 – Palestine at the Capitol – Commemorating 65 years since the Nakba led to the displacement of millions of Palestinian people worldwide. There was Palestinian food, cultural exhibits, history displays, children’s activities, and more. The event was at the North Steps of the State Capitol, 11th and L Street. PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor.

May 10, 2013 – Mother’s Day March on the National Rifle Association. Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation (1870) was read at the NRA office in Sacramento: “From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with Our own. It says: “Disarm! Disarm!” PSR/Sacramento joined Code Pink, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action, and Veterans for Peace in speaking for the silenced victims of gun violence in a march organized by Code Pink. Dr. Harry Wang was one of the speakers.

May 5, 2013 – 10th anniversary celebration of the State Capitol World Peace Rose Garden. PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor of the event.

April 21, 2013 – Sacramento Earth Day at Southside Park, sponsored by Environmental Council of Sacramento. PSR/Sacramento tabled.

April 9, 2013 – “Peace Begins with a Home: Faith and Human Rights in Israel and Palestine.” Jeff Halper, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and founder of the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions (ICAHD) gave a presentation at First United Methodist Church in Sacramento. Presented by Sabeel Sacramento. PSR/Sacramento was a co-sponsor of the event
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January 17, 2013 – “The True Cost of Oil”, a presentation by photojournalist Garth Lenz at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Mr. Lenz presented convincing evidence that “Canada’s Tar Sands are perhaps the most visually compelling example of all that is wrong with our addition to fossil fuels and why we must change or face dire consequences for all life on Earth.” Presented by 350 Sacramento and co-sponsors Lutheran Office of Public Policy, Sierra Club of California, and PSR/Sacramento.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013 – Candlelight Vigil and Bell Tolling: Remembering the Victims of Newtown and Renewal of our Commitment to Reduce Gun Violence. The event was held at the front steps of St. John’s Lutheran Church. Sponsored by the Sacramento Chapter for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence with PSR/Sacramento as one of the co-sponsors.

December 1, 2012 – PSR/Sacramento holiday social was held at the home of Bill and Diane Durston. There was plenty of good food and good company at this event, with the traditional singalong with Harry at the piano.

December 11, 2012 – 30th annual Candlelight Vigil for Peace and Justice was held at 16th Street & J Street, Sacramento, followed by gathering at Luna’s Cafe’. PSR/Sacramento is a co-sponsor.

October 30, 2013 – “Health Care as a Human Right in Occupied Palestine” featured Dr. Ruchama Marton, founder of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel and 2010 winner of the Right Livelihood Award, and Dr. Allam Jarrar of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. Speakers at the 2011 and 2012 annual meetings of the American Public Health Association, they described the current state of health care in the West Bank. View the presentations, courtesy of Media Edge. The event was at the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society. Sponsored by PSR/Sacramento and Jewish Voice for Peace/Sacramento.

October 7, 2012 – PSR/Sacramento ninth annual fundraiser dinner at the California State University, Sacramento Alumni Center. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Claire Pomeroy, Dean, UC Davis School of Medicine, gave an inspiring talk “Creating a healthier world: Addressing the social determinants of health.” Read her December 26, 2012 article “Fixing America’s Health and Legal Services Safety Net” in Becker’s Hospital Review. Thank you for supporting this event including major event sponsor UC Davis Health System and major underwriter Access Sacramento.

August 5, 2012 – Sacramento’s 26th Annual August Peace Event was held to commemorate the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This event was held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sacramento and was attended by 150 people. The program included former Sacramento Mayor Anne Rudin recounting her work with Mayors for Peace and reading the peace declaration of the Mayor of Hiroshima; music by Small Difference, a Woman’s Choral Ensemble singing for peace and justice; the story of Sadako and the Thousand Cranes read by Marielle Tsukamoto; and ideas for action presented by Harry Wang, MD, President, PSR/Sacramento. This event was dedicated to the abolition of nuclear weapons, a threat to all mankind. PSR/Sacramento was a cosponsor and fiscal sponsor.

May 3-5, 2012 – “Reclaiming the Sierra: Green $olutions to Abandoned Mines”
conference in Nevada City was presented by The Sierra Fund and addressed the environmental impacts of historic mining in the Sierra Nevada. PSR/Sacramento member Tony DeRiggi, MD gave a May 3 presentation on the Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit. PSR/Sacramento and SF/Bay Area PSR were among the co-sponsors.

April 11, 2012 – “The Deadly Connection: Endless War & Economic Crisis” at Colonial Heights Library, Sacramento. Bruce Cagnon, Co-founder and Coordinator of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, discussed the impact of rising U.S. militarism (including expansion in Asia and space) on the economic crisis here at home. Sponsored by Sacramento Area Peace Action with PSR/Sacramento as one of the co-sponsors.

October 2, 2011 – Victor Sidel, MD, Distinguished University Professor of Social Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine spoke on “PSR: Fifty Years of Concern for the Devastating Health Consequences of War” at the 8th Annual Physicians for Social Responsibility/Sacramento Dinner at California State University, Sacramento Alumni Center. Dr. Sidel inspired the 170 people who attended the event as he spoke about the health effects of war, his work for nuclear disarmament, and the 50-year history of Physicians of Social Responsibility. He encouraged everyone to continue their work for peace and justice. View Dr. Sidel’s presentation courtesy of Media Edge. The evening also featured wonderful music by George Connor, Suzan Tobin, Chris Tomine, and Gary Yee; presentation of her 1st place essay by Shannan Takhar, with introduction by Vice President and Scholarship Chair Dr. Bill Durston; and a chapter update by President Dr. Harry Wang. Many thanks to California State University, Sacramento for their sponsorship of our annual dinner, to all who volunteered and came to the dinner, and to all table sponsors and donors. Special thanks to Ellen Gold, PhD and Dr. Claire Pomeroy for inviting Dr. Sidel to speak at UC Davis.

August 7, 2011- Fiscal sponsorship of the 25th annual August Peace Event with PSR participation in leading an action opposing increased Congressional funding for the nuclear weapons complex.

May 1, 2011 — 7th annual PSR/Sacramento Scholarship Essay Contest Finals DinnerThe prompt for this year’s contest was: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.” — President and World War II Supreme Allied Commander
Dwight Eisenhower. 1st place winner was Shannan Takhar ($2,500 scholarship), 2nd place winner was Katie Tanner ($1500), and 3rd place winner was Ela Banerjee ($1000). The other seven finalists received $750 scholarships each. Read their essays.

April 23, 2011 — Sacramento Earth Day 2011 at Southside Park, sponsored by Environmental Council of Sacramento. PSR/Sacramento tabled.

February 20, 2011 — Showing of GATE-Return to Trinity, a joint fundraiser for Peace Crane Project and Global Nuclear Disrmament Fund at Grand Sacramento. Narrated in English by Martin Sheen and in Japanese by Nanako Matsushima, Producer Matt Taylor was at both showings. Co-sponspored by PSR/Sacramento.

October 24, 2010 — United Nations Association/Sacramento chapter dinner at the HIlton Hotel, Sacramento. Bill Magavern, Director of the Siera Club California spoke on “Let’s Stop Prop 23, the Dirty Energy Proposition.” PSR/Sacramento was one of the co-sponsors and tabled.

September 20, 2010 — An Evening with Robert Fisk–Lies, Misreporting and Catastrophe in the Middle East at the CSUS Student Union, Redwood Room. From Beirut, Robert Fisk is the renowned Middle East correspondent for The Independent in London, winner of countless journalism and human rights awards, and author of five books on the Middle East including The Great War for Civilisation and The Age of the Warrior. Sponsored by CSUS Middle East Cultural Association, Focus on the Middle East, and PSR/Sacramento.

August 6, 2010 — Sacramento’s August Peace Event hosted screenings of COUNTDOWN TO ZERO,a film by Lawrence Bender, the producer of An Inconvenient Truth. The film opened in Sacramento on Friday, August 6 at 5 pm and 7:30 pm at the Crest Theater in Sacramento. These showings were “sold out” and COUNTDOWN TO ZERO ran through August 12. Special thanks to the August Peace Event organizers for their work on these screenings and for securing the underwriting of Participant Media and obtaining a grant from Ploughshares Fund.
PSR/Sacramento is fiscal sponsor and co-sponsor of the August Peace Event. Read an article on the opening night of COUNTDOWN TO ZERO.

May 22, 2010 — Alice Rothchild, MD, author of Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience, now in 2nd edition, spoke at the Arden Dimick Library Community Room in Sacramento. Sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace/Sacramento, PSR/Sacramento, and Peace in the Precincts.

May 2, 2010 —
6th annual PSR/Sacramento Scholarship Essay Contest Dinner Finals
High school seniors from Sacramento and surrounding counties submitted 148 entries based on the Native American saying: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Parinaz Fozouni was 1st place winner, Austin Lillywhite was the 2nd place winner, and Keaton Boyle was the 3rd place winner receiving $2500, $1500, and $1000 scholarships respectively. The other six finalists each received $750 scolarships. The top three finalists were chosen by a panel of distinguished judges: Environmental Council of Sacramento president Dr. Alex Kelter; Sacramento area educator Dr. Carl Mack; Pesticide Watch director Paul Towers; Sacramento County Public Health Director Dr. Glennah Trochet; and Grammy Award-winning Native American flutist Mary Youngblood, who also performed during the evening program.

December 8, 2009 — Annual Candlelight Vigil for Peace and Justice, marking International Human Rights Day, 16th & J St, Sacramento, followed by dinner at Luna’s Cafe, 1414 16th St, Sacramento. Sponsored by Sacramento Area Peace Action with PSR as one of the co-sponsors.

October 18, 2009 — PSR/Sacramento 6th Annual Fundraiser DinnerMark Hertsgaard was keynote speaker at our 6th Annual Fundraiser Dinner at the California State University, Sacramento Alumni Center. Mr. Hertsgaard, an independent journalist, covers climate change for The Nation, Vanity Fair, Time and Die Zeit and has written for many of the world’s leading newspapers and magazines. His forthcoming book is Living Through the Storm: Our Future Under Global Warming. “On the way to Copenhagen” was the title of his talk in which he
discussed the December 2009 UN Climate Change Conference as, perhaps, the last, best chance to reverse the effects of global warming. The evening included a silent auction followed by dinner with food provided by Spendid Gourmet, Town and Country Catering, and music by Reggie Graham on the keyboard. A tribute was given to PSR member Leon Lefson and Essay Finalist Ryan Suleiman read his essay. Thanks to California State University, Sacramento and Access Sacramento for being sponsors of the dinner.
View the dinner program courtesy of Access Sacramento and Media Edge.Hear Jeffrey Callison’s October 19 Capital Public Radio Insight interview of Mark Hertsgaard.

September 9, 2009 — Sacramento activist and PSR member Patricia Daugherty gave a talk “Living in Palestine: Witness to Occupation.” She shared her recent experiences and showed slides from eight months in the Middle East, including six months in the West Bank and a week in Gaza.

August 9, 2009 — August Peace Event, “No more Hiroshimas, No More Nagasakis” on the 64th Annual Day of Rememberance and ACtion. The doors of the Alumni Center at California State University, Sacramento (6000 J Street) opened at 4 pm for viewing of displays and for light refreshments. The program began at 4:30 pm and featured the story of Sadako, presentation of origami cranes, presentation by PSR Steering Committee member Jimmy Spearow, PhD, essays read by PSR essay finalists Monika Robbins and Ryan Suleiman, music, and more. PSR/Sacramento was fiscal sponsor, again, this year.

August 8, 2009 9:30 — “Workshop for Single Payer Outreach Training & Fun”, Hart Center, 915 27th Street, Sacramento. This forum (third of three) is sponsored by Health Care for All Sacramento and co-sponsored by PSR and other groups.

July 8, 2009 –Brian Sytsma and Mary Hall gave a presentation on the environmental cleanup program at the former McClellan Air Force Base. The former base was an aircraft repair depot from the 1930s through closure in 2001. The industrial facility relied heavily on the use of solvents, cleaners, paints and metals that have now contaminated the soil and groundwater. Contaminants include volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethylene, dichloromethane, vinyl chloride, and some fuels; and non-volatile organic compounds such as dioxins, metals and low-level radioactive contamination (primarily radium). Mr. Sytsma and Ms. Hall discussed the cleanup programs in place and areas for which cleanup decisions are still pending, as well as opportunities for public input and involvement in the cleanup process.

June 6, 2009 — Health Care for All Sacramento sponsored a forum on Health Care Delivery and the Single Payer Plan. Over 75 community members attended the PSR co-sponsored event at the Hart Center in Sacramento. Speakers included Glennah Trochet, MD, Sacramento County Health Officer; Anthony Daniels, Capital Community Health Network; Sara Rogers, Health Consultant for Senator Mark Leno; and Harry Wang, president of PSR/Sacramento. Bruce Pomer was the moderator. Part II and III of the summer series will occur on July 18 and August 8.

May 3, 2009 — PSR Scholarship Essay Contest “Finals” Dinner
The ten 2009 Scholarship Essay Contest finalists presented their essays at the Dante Club in Sacramento. The students were chosen from a field of 144 essays for their outstanding essays based on this year’s prompt: “We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.”–Albert Einstein. Sarah LIghtshone received a $2,500 scholarship, Monika Robbins a $1,500 scholarship, and Noah Muldavin a $1,000 scholarship. The other seven finalists received $750 scholarships. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were chosen by a panel of distinguished judges: Sharon Chandler, educator, journalist, and author; Bob Dresser, Chair of Jewish Community Relations Council; Basim Elkarra, Executive Director of the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations; Heather Fargo, past mayor of the city of Sacramento; and Marielle Tsukamoto, president of the Florin Chaper of the Japanese American Citizens League.

March 19, 2009 –Third Annual Peace Rally on the 6th anniversary of the Iraq war was hosted by UUSS PEACEMAKERS and co-sponsoring groups, including PSR/Sacramento, at the Unitarian Universalist Auditorium in Sacramento. There was a Rally at Howe Avenue and Fair Oaks Blvd 4:30-6 pm followed by a Candlelight Peace Vigil at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento 7-9 pm.

March 11, 2009 — Gus Nystrom gave a talk on Israel and the Occupied Territories at our monthly meeting at UC Davis Medical Center. Mr. Nystrom’s main affiliation is with Pax Christi, the Catholic peace and justice movement. In August 2008, Gustavo and his wife Margaret spent two weeks in Israel/Palestine with an interfaith delegation. He shared observations regarding history, Zionist plans, the wall, home demolitions, and hopes for peace.

March 5, 2009 — Organic Sounds – A Celebration and Fundraiser for Pesticide Watch at Sierra 2 Center in Sacramento. For over twenty years, Pesticide Watch and Pesticide Watch Education Fund have worked side-by-side with communities to clean up and prevent pesticide pollution and pesticide exposure. During the past year, PSR has joined Pesticide Watch in forming a local coalition to reduce the use of toxic pesticides in our community. There was lots of great organic and local food, drink, music by Rowdy Kate and Stars and Garters, and speakers included Sacramento Councilmember Rob Fong. PSR was on the host committee for the event.

February 11, 2009 — Jim Whitaker spoke on “Iran and the Geopolitics of the Middle East”. Mr. Whitaker, who has lived and worked in various parts of the Middle East, including Iran, as an international financier, explained and discussed Iran’s geo-political and geo-strategic objectives and actions relative to the Middle East and Afghanistan and why there is no possibility of resolution of that region’s issues without the active involvement and acquiesence of Iran.

October 25, 2008 — Satsuki Ina, PhD introduced her award-winning film From a Silk Cocoon which tells her family’s story of the tragic outcome resulting from World War II hysteria and racial profiling. A panel discussion with Q & A on “Your Civil Rights, Internment and Racism” followed the film with Dr. Ina, Harry Wang, MD, President of PSR/Sacramento and Basim Elkarra, Executive Director of the Sacramento Valley Council on American-Islamic Relations. Sponsored by Therapists for Social Responsibility. Co-sponsored by PSR/Sacramento, Unitarian Universalist Peacemakers, Grandmothers for Peace, Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom, Multicultural Counseling and Consulting Associates, Gray Panthers, Asian Pacific Community Counseling and others.

September 10, 2008 — PSR Board member Curtiss DuRand, MD, recently returned from visiting Cuba, spoke about Cuba’s health care system. His presentation included photos taken during his recent trip.

August 9, 2008 — PSR was the fiscal sponsor for the August Peace Event at the Sacramento State University Alumni Center. Participants included Reverend Bob Oshita, past PSR president Dr. Bill Durston, Pamela Vergun, PhD, translator and author of A Dimly Burning Wick, 2008 PSR Essay Contest finalist Jennifer Kocsis, the Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan group from UC Davis, and Grammy Award winner Mary Youngblood. This annual event, which remembers the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nakasaki, was covered by the local Sacramento Fox 40 TV news station.

July 9, 2008 — Ms. Stella Levy, a long-time anti-death penalty activist, discussed the recently released report of the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice. As reported in the July 1, 2008 Sacramento Bee, “capital punishment in California is too flawed to be effective and is crippled by an appeals backlog that delays punishment for crimes.” Ms. Levy focused on the economic costs of the death penalty, as detailed in the report.

June 14, 2008 2 – 4:30 pm: Reaching Out To Our Veterans And Their Families
Dr. Judith Broder, Studio City psychiatrist and psychoanalyst spoke on the Los Angeles area The Soldiers Project which provides free, individualized therapy to Iraq and Afghanistan military/veterans and their families. Zohreh Whitaker, Military Families Speak Out, and PSR Board Member talked about the experience of her son’s military service and deployment in Iraq. Sponsored by Therapists for Social Responsibility and co-sponsored by PSR/Sacramento and California Society for Clinical Social Work.

June 12, 2008 — Cori Traub presented an “Update on Environmental Issues” and led a discussion about environmental issues our chapter may wish to address in the coming 18 months. Ms. Traub is currently a Development Officer at UC Davis School of Medicine and has previously been a development director for Clean Water Action, Pesticide Action Network, and Coalition for Clean Air.

March 12, 2008 — Aashika Damodar spoke on “Sex Trafficking in the U.S.: Addressing the needs of Survivors Locally and Abroad.” She discussed what sex trafficking is, where it occurs in the U.S. and the dynamics of victim identification and services. Ms. Damodar is a senior studying Anthropology & Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and is the Director of the ‘STOP the Traffick’ group at Berkeley.

October 28, 2007 — Joseph Cirincione, formerly Senior Fellow and Director for Nuclear Policy at Center for American Progress and now the president of Ploughshares Fund, was the keynote speaker at the 4th annual PSR/Sacramento Dinner. One of America’s best known weapons experts, Mr. Cirincione is author of Bomb Scare: The History & Future of Nuclear Weapons (Columbia University Press, 2007). Between 1998 and 2006, Mr. Cirincione was the director for nonproliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He was featured in the award-winning documentary Why We Fight. Mr. Cirincione was interviewed on the October 25, 2007 Capital Public Radio Insight program. Access Sacramento and California State University, Sacramento were co-sponsors of the event.